The assay of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantitation of clozapine a member of the dibenzodiazepine class of antipsychotic drugs and its reduced metabolite in human plasma has been developed. Clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine are concentrated from blood samples by liquid-liquid extraction, followed by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. Accuracy of the determination is ensured by application of an internal standard, protriptyline, which is closely related to clozapine. A detection limit of 15 ng/mL for clozapine and 30 ng/ml for N-desmethylclozapine was achieved. © 1991 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.